HSM Verona plant completes EFEC registration

HIGH POINT — HSM's Verona, Miss. foam pouring and fabrication plant has become its third facility to complete the American Home Furnishings Alliance's EFEC environmental management program.

EFEC, or Enhancing Furniture's Environmental Culture, was developed by the AHFA in 1999. It is in place at 81 domestic facilities.

To achieve registration, facilities must improve management of resources and raw materials, reduce energy and water consumption and reduce waste disposal and associated costs.

HSM officials reported EFEC helped the plant save over $24,000 during a one year period.

During EFEC implementation from February 2012 to February 2013, the plant reduced landfill solid waste by almost 40,000 pounds, an AHFA press release said.

The program also helped divert 13,000 pounds of process waste from a landfill to a waste-to-energy facility and helped reduced electricity use by almost 12%.

The 400,000-square-foot Verona facility has more than 100 employees. HSM officials lauded the EFEC program for offering a structured management system that allowed it to meet corporate environmental policy principles.

"From the very beginning of our EFEC journey, it was our goal to create a new culture within our facility to educate the employees on the importance of environmental stewardship," said Robert Aycock, Verona's EFEC team leader, in a press release.

"With the involvement of employees in our EFEC program, many of them have not only recognized the benefits to the company, but have taken the recycling and conservation practices home to save money and protect our environment."

The AHFA is an industry trade group. AHFA member companies pay nothing to enter the program. A guidance document helps steer the EFEC implementation team at facilities registration steps.

Assistance and training is available from AHFA staff. An annual maintenance audit is necessary to remain in the program.

The program's participants include manufacturing plants, warehouses and corporate headquarters buildings in 15 states and Mexico.